Internal-combustion engine.



N0. 7l4,l80. Patented Nov. 25, i902. C. HENDRICKS. INTERNAL COMBUSTIONENGINE.

(Appiication filed Dec. '11, 1901.

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INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1901.

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No. .7|4,l80. w Patented Nov. 25, I902.

C. HENDRICKS. INTERNAL conausnou Enema.

(Appl at on filedDec 11 1901,

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61a Hendricks v v a abtoznury 1 NoRms PETERS 00.. PHOTULITHQ, WASHINUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARK HENDRICKS, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,180, dated November25, 1902.

Application filed December 11,1901. Serial No. 85,512. (No model.)

To (all ZU7L0777/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK HENDRICKS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Riverside, in the county of Riverside and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Wl1lCl1- Figure 1is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of anapparatus embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2, a detail sectionof the hydraulic motor I prefer employing, and Fig. 3 a side elevationshowing the arrangement for automatically returning the power-pistonafter each working stroke. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views of detailshereinafter described; Figs. 7 and 8, views similar to Fig. 1, showingmodifications; and Fig. 9 a detail View of the motor, showing a slightmodification.

This invention relates to improvements in internal-combustion engines ofthe explosive type, in which the power is derived from a suitableinflammable mixture of air and gas or vapor exploded in thepowercylinder; but it differs from the ordinary gas or vapor engine inthat the explosive force resulting from the sudden burning orconsumption of the vapor or mixture is not applied through thepiston-rod directly to a crank-shaft or other mechanical powertransmitting or translating devices, but is applied indirectly theretothrough the medium of a body of water or other non-compressible liquid,which is set and maintained in motion by the explosion of the mixture,as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In one form my invention contemplates the employment of a closed watercircuit or system having included in ita suitable hydraulic motor,preferably of the rotary type or of any well-known form of rotary pump,and a power-cylinder containing a slidable piston dividing it into twoparts, one end or part constitutinga com pression-chamberand forming aportion of the water-circuit and the other end constituting anexplosion-chamber into which the explosive mixture is admitted insuitable charges and at intervals and exploC ed, the arrangement beingsuch that the explosion of the mixture in the cylinder will force thepower-transmitting liquid from the compression end of the cylinder intothe water-circuit and thence into an =5 air-chamber connected to thecircuit and thence in an unbroken stream through the circuit or systemof piping and the motor, and thereby impart to the latter a continuousrotary motion which may be utilized as a source of mechanical power, thepower liquid passing through the motor and along in the circuit and backagain into the compression end of the power-cylinder, to be thenceforced out again through the air-chamber and motor. Suitablecheck-valves are employed to maintain a uniform direction in the flow ofthe liquid, and suitable air-chambers are provided at diiferent pointsto resist the shocks incident to the explosion and equalize the pressurethroughout the system and at different points in the cycle. Adonbleby-pass around the motor or pump provided with proper valves or cocks isalso contemplated for enabling the flow of liquid through the motor tobe readily reversed, so as to reverse the motor and also to stop therevolutions thereof Without stopping the explosions in the cylinder.

In its preferred form myinvention further 80 contemplates the employmentof one or more air-pumps to be operated by thesame explosions that drivethe power-piston, the object of this air-pump being to maintain thepressure in a suitable air-tank, which latter is to be utilized forcharging the explosion-chamber of the main cylider With explosivemixture, suitable vessels being connected thereto for holding thegasolene or other imflammable liquid and for mixing the compressed airwith the inflammable vapor on its Way to the explosion chamber, andsuitable valves and cooks and automatic devices being provided tocontrol the flow of air and vapor from their respective receptaclesthrough the mixer and to the explosion -chamber. Suitable automaticigniting and exhausting devices are also employed.

The invention in its preferred form further contemplates the employmentof suitable means for accomplishing the return stroke of the pistonafter the explosive force is spent, thereby not only expelling the spentgases, but also drawing into the lower or water end of thepower-cylinder a quantity of the power liquid which is to be afterwardexpelled from the cylinder by the next succeeding explosion and forcedonward to the airchamber, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

This invention has other minor objects in view which will appear in thecourse of this specification.

In the drawings, the reference-letter A designates the power-cylinder,to the upper or forward end of which is connected a suitable igniter a,which may be of any ordinary or approved construction and which may beoperated automatically from a suitable moving part of the engine. To thesame end of the cylinder is connected the inlet-pipe b, adapted toconvey the explosive mixture to the explosion-chamber of the cylinderand provided with an inwardly-opening check-valve 0. An exhaust-pipe dis also connected to this end of the cylinder, and in this exhaust-pipeis placed a suitable exhaust-valve e, whose stem is provided with an armf. Working in the cylinder is the power-piston B, which separates theexplosion-chamber from the liquid end of the cylinder, said piston beingprovided with a piston-rod g, which extends out through the lower orouter'head of the cylinder and is connected to a cross-head h, whichslides upon a pair of parallel pipes i, connected to the water-space ofthe lower end of the cylinder and forming a part of the watercircuit.Formed around the lower end of the power-cylinder is a suitable conduitj, which has free communication with the interior of the cylinderthrough a series of openings normally closed by outward-opening valvesZ. At one side this conduit is connected to a lateral passage or conduitm, which connects with the water-space of anair-chamber G. A pipe 0,provided with a suitable regulating-valve,connects the water-space ofthis air-chamber with induction-pipes p of a rotary hydraulic motor D,and the eduction-pipes q of this motor are connected to a pipe r, whichdepends into the water-space of an auxiliary air-chamber F and isprovided at its lower end with an outward-opening check-valve s. Fromthe water-space of the chamber F extends a pipe 25, which is connectedto the lower ends of the parallel pipes 2'. The pipes '21 are eachprovided with an upward-opening check-valve' u. Suitable spring-actuateddevices (shown in Fig. 3) are connected to the cross-head toautomatically return the piston B and expel the burned gases, and, ifdesired, the pistonrod may be formed hollow, and a guide-rod w, suitablysupported, may be arranged to work therein, and thereby serve to assistin guiding the cross-heads and connected parts.

An air-pump Gis arranged adjacent to the power-cylinderand has itseduction-pipeazconnected to an auxiliary air-tanky. This pump ispreferably constructed of two cylinders of difierent sizes and connectedtogether end to end, a piston ,2 working in each cylinder and connectedby a rod a and a spring I) being arranged in the upper cylinder toreturn the pistons after each stroke. The upper smaller cylinder isconnected by a pipe 0 to the explosion chamber of the powercylinder,whereby a sufficient portion of the power generated by each explosionwill be carried over and applied to the upper one of the pistons z toforce the same and its connected piston downward and expel the aircontained in the.

lower cylinder out into tank 1/. Upon each upward stroke of the pistonsz the burned gases, which are carried over into the upper cylinder bythe explosion, are expelled and a new charge of air is drawn into thelower cylinder through the inlet d, which is controlled by a suitableinward-opening checkvalve. In this way a high pressure is maintained intank y, and but a small part of the power of the explosion mixture isemployed for this purpose.

The eduction-pipe e is provided with a valve f and is connected to amixing tank or vessel g, containing wire-gauze or other material, andthis mixing-chamber is connected at its opposite end to the inlet-pipeb. The mixingchamber g is connected at its top by means ofa pipe 71/ toatanki,containing gasolene or other volatile inflammable liquid, thispipe h depending to near the bottom of the tank, so as to be alwayssubmerged in the gasolene. The pipe 72/ is provided with a suitableglobe-valve j and a suitable sight-feed k. To open and close theexhaust-valve e and the inlet-valve f, I employ a valve-rod -Z,connected to the cross-head, and suitable cooperating devices. Anadjustable springactuated tappet 'm is attached to the rod near thecross-head for the purpose of opening the air-valve f. The valve f isprovided with a lateral arm m attached to its stem, which arm projectslaterally into the path of the tappet m. A spring m is connected to armm to normally hold the valve closed. Upon the upward stroke of rod Ztappet m is forced toward rod Z,so as to pass arm m but upon thedownward stroke of rod Z the abrupt lower end of the tappet engages arm722 and opens the valve and holds it open during a portion of thedownward stroke of the piston. To operate the exhaust-valve, I employ ashort rock-shaft n, journaled on top of .the cylinder A and providedwith a short lateral arm n at each end, the inner one of which isconnected to the armfof the exhaust-valve and the outer one of whichterminates adjacent to the rod 1'.

Attached to the under side of the outer one of the arms 01 is a flatspring 01 which is provided with a roller n at its free end, which bearsagainst and tracks on rod Z. When the rod Z descends, the spring 02 andits connected arm n are forced downward and the exhaust-valve is closed,and when the rod Z ascends the spring a will be forced upward againstarm n and cause a sufficient binding action to rock-shaft n and open theexhaustvalve, as is obvious. It will be seen that by making the tappet madjustable th e air-valve may be opened at any pointin the downstroke ofthe valve-rod and that by means of the rock-shaft n and connected partsthe exhaust-valve willbe normally held closed while the rod Z isdescending and will be automatically opened the instant the valve-rodbegins to move upward. Thus providing means for the opening of theexhaust-valve the instant the expulsion stroke of the piston begins ispeculiarly advantageousin an engine of this class, for the reason thatthe length of the stroke is variable, depending as it does upon thepressure in tank 0 and upon other minor conditions. To insure theexhaustvalve being closed at all times except while the power-piston ismoving upward, I may employ a torsion-spring n on rock-shaft n, as shownin Fig. 6.

To automatically return the power-piston after each working stroke, Ipreferably employ the devices shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which consist,essentially, of two torsional springs 12, mounted upon opposite sides ofthe conduitj and each having an elongated loop or arm 12 formed in itabout midway its length and projecting laterally from it atsubstantially a right angle to the spring. Connected to the outer end ofeach of the armsq; is rod c which at its lower 'end is pivotallyconnected to a lateral arm 1;, carried by the cross-head h. Thetorsional action of springs normally throws arms r upward and inwardtoward the opposite sides of cylinder A, and thereby draws up thecross-head. To form a buifer against which each arm v strikes when itisdrawn upward, a coil-spring Q25 is mounted on a pin projecting laterallyfrom the conduitj above the spring o. These springs c not only serve tocushion the action of arms '0 but also serve to throw out arms 0 upontheir recoil, and thereby assist in starting the power-piston downward,thus insuring the closing of the exhaust-valve and the opening of theair-valve.

Suitable pressure and water gages may of course be attached to thevarious tanks and vessels, these parts being omitted from the drawings,as they form no part of the present invention.

To prepare the apparatus for operation, gasolene or other volatileexplosive liquid is poured into tank 2" through a suitablefillingopening and the air in the top of said tank is compressedsufficiently to force the liquid up through pipe h into themixing-chamber g, the quantity being regulated by valve j and thepressure being obtained by a suitable hand-pump, which may be connectedto a nipple 0. A hand-pump is also connected to a nipplep of tank 3 andoperated sufficiently to obtain a starting pressure in said tank, theair being prevented from escaping from this tank by a check-valve q andby the closed outlet-valvef. WVater or other noncompressible liquid thatis to be employed to transmit the power to the pump is poured into tank0 through a suitable filling-opening 1". To start the motor, it is thensimply necessary to open valve j and when sufficient gasolene has beenforced over into the mixing-chamber open inlet-Valve f by hand,whereupon the air from tank ywill be forced up through themixing-chamber, where it will be carbureted, and into theexplosion-chamber of the engine. Thus admitting the explosive mixtureunder pressure into the cylinder will be sufficient to force piston Bdownward against the action of its springs 'v, and when it has reached apredetermined point the inlet-valve is closed and the chargeautomatically ignited, whereupon the piston will continue to descend tonear the bottom of the cylinder, and thereby force the power liquid outinto the air-chamber 0. When the force of the explosion is spent, thepiston B will be automatically returned by springs 12 and the spentgases will be forced out, and with the closing of the exhaust-valve theinlet- Valve will be automatically opened and the operation justdescribed will be repeated. The return of the power-piston draws intothe lower end of the cylinder a quantity of water from tank F, and thiswater is again forced out into the air-chamber O, and so on as long asthe explosions are kept up. By the employment of the air-chamber O theshocks of the explosion are neutralized, the power is accumulated, and acontinuous stream of water is caused to pass to and through the motor,thus maintaining a constant supply of power to the power mechanismconnected to the motor and doing away with the necessity of abalance-wheel and the usual crankshafts.

If the tank F be closed, as it is preferred to have it, it will form anauxiliary air-chamber and not only serve to take up the jar or shock,but will also assist in raising the powerpiston through the medium ofthe power liquid, as is evident. As has been set forth, the pressure intank y will be maintained by the air-pump G, which will be operated witheach explosion.

Any suitable motor may be employed; but I prefer the rotary motor shownmost clearly in Fig. 2, in which is employed a pair of interlockinggears or pistons r inclosed in a casing closed on all sides except wherethe inlet and outlet pipes are connected,the shafts of said pistonsbeing geared together, if desired, and connected to the machinery to beoperated in any suitable way outside of the casing. These rotary pistonsare provided upon their peripheries at regular intervals with largeteeth or cogs and with notches or recesses on each side of each toothfor the reception of the teeth or cogs of the opposite piston, as iswell known. It will be observed that I employ two induction-pipes p,which embrace the motor and connect, respectively, withsimilarly-arranged eduction-pipes q, and that each branch of theinduction and the eduction pipes is provided with a valve or cock 3. Ata point between each pair of valves the connected ends of the inductionand eduction pipes are connected to the motor by a shortinward-extending conduit or port If. It will be observed, therefore,that by properly adjusting these valves or cocks the power liquid may becaused to pass around the pipes Without entering the motor, therebystopping the motor without necessitating the stopping of the explosions,and that the liquid may be directed into the motor from either side,whereby the motor may be run in either direction and may be readilyreversed without interruption in the movement of the power liquid or theengine proper. To shift the valves, any suitable devices may beemployed. In the drawings I have shown a hand-lever it, pivoted at apoint between its ends to the center of the motor-casing and providedwith a spring-pawl adapted to engage a stationary rack "L" and hold thelever in its adjusted position, the lever being connected to the valvesby a pair of links 10, pivoted to it at points equidistant from itspivotal point and pivotally connected at their ends to suitable armsattached to the stems of the respective valves. Vith this arrangementwhen the lever is at center all the valves will be open and the liquidmay pass freely around the motor without entering its casing, and whenit is shifted to an oblique position one of the induction-valves and thediagonally opposite eduction-valve will be opened and the remaining twovalves will be closed, thereby directing the power liquid into one sideor the other of the casing, according to which position the lever isadjusted, and causing it to emerge from the opposite side.

It will be observed that my apparatus utilizes the combined advantagesof a gas or hydrocarbon-vapor engine and a hydraulic rotary engine ormotor, is readily reversible, and produces a uniform movement of therotating shafts, since while the actuating impulses due to the explosionof the successive charges of gas are intermittent and severe thecushioning tendency of the air-chamber interposed in the water-circuitresults in an approximately uniform velocity. A further importantadvantage is that the usual crankshaft and fly-wheel are avoided,thereby permitting me to obtain and utilize a greater percentage ofpower from the fuel employed than is possible with the common form ofexplosive-engine.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in thedetails of the apparatus without involving any departure from the broadprinciples of the invention involved or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof or voiding the appended claims, and I therefore reserveto myself the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scopeof my invention. Forinstance, the induction and eduction pipes of themotor may be formed integral with the casing, as shown in Fig. 9.

Instead of applying my invention to the closed power-circuit shown it ispossible to employ it in connection with open or broken circuit where aconvenient and sufficient head of water is obtainable, in which case thepipe 25 will be connected with the water source and pipe r or chamber Fwith a waste-conduit, as shown in Fig. '7. The closed-circuit apparatusis desirable where the engine is employed for motor-vehicles, launches,850,, while the open-circuit apparatus may be employed in connectionwith stationary engines, as is evident.

' It will be observed, further, that without departing from the spiritof this invention the motor D and chamber F may be omitted and theapparatus employed for pumping water, as shown in Fig. 8, in whichcapacity it will be especially valuable as a simple and economicapparatus for draining mines, &c., and for hydraulic mining.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire toobtain by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination, a power-cylinder having an igniter and also inlet andoutlet ports at one end, means for supplying an explosive mixture tosaid inlet-port, a conduit for a power liquid connected to the other endof the cylinder, a valve or valves between this conduit and thecylinder, a valved supplyv pipe or pipes connected to the end of thecylinder adjacent to the said conduit, an airchamber connected to saidconduit, a sliding power-piston in the cylinder-provided with apiston-rod working through the cylinder-head at the liquid end of thecylinder, and means connected to this piston-rod for automaticallycontrolling the gas supply and exhaust devices, for the purpose setforth.

2. In combination, a power-cylinder, a sliding piston therein,converting one end of the cylinder into an explosion-chamber and itsother end into a liquid-chamber, means connected to theexplosion-chamber for supplying and igniting and exhausting the gases, apiston-rod connected to the piston and working through the head thereofat the liquid end of the cylinder, means connected to this piston-rodfor controlling the gas-supply and exhaust devices, means for supplyinga power liquid to the liquid end of the cylinder, a conduit connected tothe liquid end of the cylinder and separated therefrom by anoutward-opening valve or valves, an air-chamber connected to theconduit, and a motor connected to the liquid-space of the air-chamber.

3. In combination, a power-cylinder, igniting and gas supplying andexhausting devices connected to the explosion end thereof, a pistonworking in the cylinder, a piston-rod working through the opposite headof the cylinder, a valved pipe or pipes adapted to convey liquid to theliquid end of the cylinder, a conduit connected to the liquid end of thecylinder and separated therefrom by a check valve or valves, anair-chamber connected to said cond uit, a motor connected to theliquidtoo v14,1so

space of said air-chamber, a reservoir connected to the educ tion-pipeof the motor, and a return-pipe connecting this reservoir to theaforesaid valved supply-pipes, and means for automatically operating thegas supply and exhaust devices from said piston-rod.

4. In combination, a power-cylinder, aslidin g piston working thereinand provided with a piston-rod Working through one head of the cylinder,an igniter, gas supply and exhaust devices connected to the explosionend of said cylinder, an air-tank connected to said supply-pipe,carbureting or mixing devices, an air-pu mp having its power endconnected to the explosion-chamber of the power-cylinder and itseduction end connected to said airtank by a valved pipe, aliquid-conduit connected to the end of the cylinder in which thepiston-rod Works and separated therefrom by a check valve or valves, avalved pipe or pipes adapted to convey liquid to the liquid end of thecylinder, and means connected to the piston-rod for automaticallyoperating the supply and exhaust devices therefrom.

5. In combination, apower-cylinder, means for igniting and supplying andexhausting the gases, a sliding piston in the cylinder provided with apiston-rod Working through the cylinder-head opposite theexplosion-chamber, a valved supply pipe or pipes adapted to conveyliquid to this latter end of the cylinder, a conduit connected to thesame end of the cylinder and separated therefrom by an outward-openingvalve or valves, and resilient 7. In an internal-combustion engine, the

combination of a cylinder, a piston and piston-rod having a variablestroke, a valve-rod actuated from the piston-rod, an igniter, supply andexhaust valves, means for opening the supply-valves, and means forautomatically opening the exhaust-valves at the beginning of theexpulsion or return stroke of the piston, said means consistingessentially of a rock-shaft, means for connecting it at one end to theexhaust-valve, and a resilient roller-carrying arm at the other end ofthe rock-shaft adapted to resiliently engage the valve-rod, for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence oftwo Witnesses, this 4th day of December, 1901.

. CLARK HENDRICKS.

\Vitnesses:

J. HARVEY ELLIs, WM. STUDABECKER.

